EMPTY CRADLE, BROKEN HEART, REVISED EDITION: SURVIVING THE DEATH OF YOUR BABY
By Deborah Davis
The heartache of miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death affects thousands of U.S. families every year. Empty Cradle, Broken Heart offers reassurance to parents who struggle with anger, guilt, and despair after such tragedy. Deborah Davis encourages grieving and makes suggestions for coping. This book strives to cover many different kinds of loss, including information on issues such as the death of one or more babies from a multiple birth, pregnancy interruption, and the questioning of aggressive medical intervention.
There is also a special chapter for fathers as well as a chapter on “protective parenting” to help anxious parents enjoy their precious living children. Doctors, nurses, relatives, friends, and other support persons can gain special insight. Most importantly, parents facing the death of a baby will find necessary support in this gentle guide. If reading this book moves you to cry, try to accept this reaction. Your tears merge with those of other grieving parents.
A purpose of this book is to let bereaved parents know that they are not alone in their grief. With factual information and the words and insights of other bereaved parents, you can establish realistic expectations for your grief. Empty Cradle, Broken Heart is meant to help you through these difficult experiences by giving you things to think about, providing suggestions for coping and encouraging you to do what you need to survive your baby’s death. Whether your baby dies recently or long ago, this information can be useful to you.
HOLDING ON TO HOPE
By Nancy Guthrie
Framing her own story of staggering loss and soaring hope with the biblical story of Job, Nancy Guthrie takes her fellow sufferers by the hand and guides them on a pathway through pain―straight to the heart of God. Holding On To Hope offers an uplifting perspective, not only for those experiencing monumental loss, but for anyone going through difficulty and failure. Includes a study section for readers who want to dig deeper into what the Bible says about dealing with suffering and grief. Additional sections include a foreword by Anne Graham Lotz and a resource section linking scriptures with each chapter’s lesson.
WAITING WITH GABRIEL: A STORY OF CHERISHING A BABY’S LIFE
By Amy Kuebelbeck
This memoir is the true story of parents who were told that their unborn baby had an incurable heart condition, confronting them with an impossible decision: to attempt risky surgeries to give their baby a chance at a longer life, or to continue the pregnancy and embrace their baby’s life as it would unfold, from conception to natural death. The unforgettable journey that ensued would change not only their lives, but also the lives of everyone who came in contact with them.
The book also addresses larger issues including questions about heroic medicine; attitudes and practices regarding pregnancy and infant loss; and new dilemmas created by advances in prenatal testing, including what to do if a test reveals a fatal problem. Waiting With Gabriel has become a premier resource for families in this situation as well as families who have lost a baby under other circumstances, and it is now being used by hospitals and clinics across the U.S. and Canada. Also available as an e-book in Italian, titled “Aspettando Gabriel.”
I WILL CARRY YOU: THE SACRED DANCE OF GRIEF & JOY
By Angie Smith
In 2008, Angie Smith and her husband Todd (lead singer of the group Selah) learned through ultrasound that their fourth daughter had conditions making her “incompatible with life.” Advised to terminate the pregnancy, the Smiths chose instead to carry this child and allow room for a miracle. That miracle came the day they met Audrey Caroline and got the chance to love her for the precious two-and-a-half hours she lived on earth.
Upon receiving the original diagnosis, Angie started a blog (Bring the Rain) to keep family and friends informed of their journey. Soon, the site exploded in popularity, connecting with thousands who were either experiencing their own heartbreaking situations or simply curious about how God could carry someone through something so tragic. I Will Carry You tells the powerful story of a parent losing her child, interwoven with the biblical story of Lazarus to help those who mourn to still have hope—to find grace and peace in the sacred dance of grief and joy.
My Children in Heaven: A Story of Grief, Hope, and Love
By Roseanne M. Collison
Suddenly, she knew: We are going to have a baby today, and today he is going to die.
After enduring two miscarriages since the birth of her first child, Roseanne desperately wanted to have another baby that she could hold, cherish, and love outside the womb.
Despite the doctor’s words that their next pregnancy was “non-life compatible,” Roseanne and her husband bravely ignored the suggestion to terminate. When Roseanne spontaneously went into labor at 28 weeks, they were given the opportunity to meet the baby they had lovingly carried in utero.
Their precious son, Michael Jair, lived 20 minutes and died in Roseanne’s arms. Trusting in God as she healed from the death of her son, Roseanne continued to pray for another child. However, when she suffered a fourth pregnancy loss, she wrestled with the question—How could God allow this to happen again? As she searched her soul, she came to accept the truth that God is loving even in the midst of extreme heartache and unfulfilled desires.